Question

The author has drawn powerful images and pictures. Pick out three examples each of
(i) the atmosphere of ‘febrile confusion’ outside the temple of Pashupatinath (for example: some people trying to get the priest’s attention are elbowed aside...)
(ii) the things he sees
(iii) the sounds he hears

Answer 1

The author has drawn powerful images and pictures.
(i) the atmosphere of ‘febrile confusion’ outside the temple of Pashupatinath: Priests, hawkers, devotees, tourists, cows, monkeys, pigeons and dogs roam through the grounds. We offer a few flowers. A party of saffron-clad Westerners struggle for permission to enter the temple as the gate says that only Hindus are allowed in the temple.
(ii) the things he sees: Kathmandu is vivid, mercenary, religious, with small shrines to flower-adorned deities along the narrowest and busiest streets; with fruit sellers, flute sellers, hawkers of postcards; shops selling Western cosmetics, film rolls and chocolate; or copper utensils and Nepalese antiques.
(iii) the sounds he hears: Film songs blare out from the radios, car horns sound, bicycle bells ring, stray cows low questioningly at motorcycles, vendors shout out their wares.

Answer 2

(i) The author has vividly depicted the atmosphere of ‘febrile confusion’ outside the temple of Pashupatinath with powerful images and scenes. These include a group of saffron-clad Westerners struggling to enter the main gate, as only Hindus were allowed inside; a fight breaking out between two monkeys; and the appearance of a royal Nepalese princess, for whom everyone made way.
(ii) He described the Baudhnath Stupa as having an immense white dome, surrounded by a road. Small shops on the outer edge sold felt bags, Tibetan prints, and silver jewelry. Unlike the temple, there were no crowds. On the busiest streets of Kathmandu, he saw fruit sellers, flute sellers, postcard hawkers, and shops selling Western cosmetics, film rolls, chocolate, copper utensils, and Nepalese antiques.
(iii) The sounds he heard included film songs blaring from radios, car horns, bicycle bells, and vendors shouting their wares. He also heard flute music, which he described as the most universal and distinctive of sounds.